Nigeria is inching closer to achieving steady power supply as the National Council on Privatization (NCP) Tuesday shortlisted 21 bidders for 10 out of the 11 electricity distribution firms in the country.

The NCP meeting which took place at the Aso Rock presidential villa was presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

Atedo Peterside, a member of the NCP, announced the council’s position after its meeting at the State House, Abuja.

He said the firms shortlisted would be invited to the financial bid opening scheduled for October 10, 2012 upon the submission of their individual post-qualification studies.

According to reports, the firms selected for the Ibadan Distribution Company include Western Consortium, Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Company and Kepco/NEDC Consortium.

For the Enugu Distribution Company, Rensmart Power Limited, Proglobal Power International Consortium, Interstate Electrics Limited and Eastern Electric Nigeria Limited were shortlisted.

The Eko Distribution Company had the following firms shortlisted: Oando Consortium, Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Limited, Sepco-Pacific Energy Consortium, Honeywell Energy Resources International Limited, Kepco/NEDC Consortium and West Power and Gas.

According to Peterside, none of the two bids received for the Kaduna Distribution Company was technically qualified.

For the Kaduna Distribution Company, Atedo Peterside said the pre-qualified firms who had initially paid the sum of $20,000 will be required by the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) to submit fresh bids for the company in line with Plan B in respect of the privatisation of any unsold successor company.

Peterside explained that the bidding companies were assessed based on documents made available by the firms and the NCP will not hesitate to disqualify any shortlisted firm found to have presented fraudulent claims along the line.

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